Ask The Wild Hunt

[Sigtryggr Thorite]

Naos III was a frigid cold moon with the bare minimum of what most civilized people call a habitable zone. A simple glance over the poorly maintained pre-fab buildings on every street proved how difficult life had been and continued to be. With heavy snow and freezing temperatures, the moon could only sustain small pockets of wildlife, and even then, most were hunted into oblivion save for what survived in the dangerous mountains in the distance.

But every far-flung moon had its legends, beasts so terrible or elusive that they lurked in the shadows for decades. Only for the air of mystery to resurface once in a while as new traces were found and reported. It wasn't entirely clear what was out there, some claimed a ferocious beast with talons the size of horses, others boasted it surely was a wyrm as big as a city block. In any case, tracking down and dispatching the creature would surely bring reward from the townsfolk, let alone the prestige of the kill.

Sigtryggr had heard the whispers and quickly arrived on the scene dressed in the fresh furs of his people. The cold bristling air blew through the street and against his beard, particles of snow catching themselves among it. From the spaceport, he quickly darted for the nearby cantina, both for the comforting warmth the bountiful furnace provided, but also to scope out his possible competition and take one last shot for the road.

@LadyRen @TheDudeMike

 

[Freyja]

Freyja was already sold on the planet. It was cold, it wasn't too busy, and it seemed to have quite some adventures to offer - most specifically, a monstrosity she could hunt down.

She hadn't had a good hunt in ages, and she was quite excited as approached the cantina, her bow attached to her back, her two axes dangling from her side and a few vials of concentrated poison for various subspecies.

This endeavor wasn't another naive solo adventure though, but it had been some interesting rumors her favorite Deucalian had told her about that had immediately piqued her interest. After their latest shenanigans, she didn't doubt that this hunt would be fun, especially because so far, she had only seen him in the hustle and bustle of the city, and Deucalians were born for hunting after all.

Dressed in warm, yet elegant animal furs and medium armor she strolled into the cantina, her gaze immediately searching for Siggy. To him, she was nothing but a Deucalian descendant who didn't say no to crime and hunts, and this appearance she'd keep holding up.

"Hey...didn't know we agreed on partner look", she quipped, obviously not surprised by how he showed up - it was functional, kept you warm, yet allowed you to move, but it had been ages since she had seen someone else dress similarly...

@TheDudeMike @Xorism

 

[Param Vour]

Hunting wasn't something Param was really used to. Doing it on a freezing moon with basically no redeeming qualities was even worse. Wandering the galaxy allowed her to hear of many rumors and tales, most of which were simply uninteresting to her. This one was still rather uninteresting in the grand scheme of things Param liked, but she figured she would give it a try; a large, ferocious beast to hunt. By the looks of the crowd in the cantina, the other hunters certainly looked the part of hunters more than her, but she wondered just how many could command the elements of nature, or kill everyone in the cantina with a thought.

Param shook the thoughts of death away. As good as she was at killing, she didn't much care for it any more. Despite that, she still had a hand forged echani war sword resting on corner seat against her left shoulder. Two daggers where hidden on her hips, and a Westar-35 blaster pistol holstered on her right thigh. A grey, hooded poncho draped over her, helping the black thermal shirt underneath to keep her warm while also hiding most of her weapons from sight. The hood wasn't enough on this moon though, and she had a black beanie pulled tightly over her head.

In a rare showing of her hair being let down, the brown dyed locks fell over her shoulders out the front of the hood, turning to their natural silver starting half way down. That, her silver eyes, and the sword she cradled were the only things to give her away as an echani. Not that being echani was a bad thing. Param had to reinvent herself to stay hidden; if she were to be hunted, they'd look for an echani girl that wears dresses and plays with plants.

The last vestige of her old life, and about the one she could truly count on, sat in rest mode on the table in front of her. She sipped her warm broth as her gaze fell over the little red and silver BD-unit. Vee hated the cold as much as she did. It frozen his servos and joints, but it was great for his processor which could overheat in warmer climates. She gave his metal head a gentle pet with a warm smile.

@Xorism @LadyRen

 

[Baldr Ivarsson]

The path towards the mountains was treacherous and unforgiving. The rumors suggested that the beast had made itself a burrow in the volcanic caverns in the ranges. The path to get there involved trekking through bitter colds, narrowing woods and a vast, frozen lake that had many weaknesses. There was no reprieve along the way - at least not anymore.

There was a small outpost that had a handful of families living in it just outside of the woods. The outpost served as the residence of hunters that usually traded their wares to the city. Today, the tiny hamlet was as silent as the whispering winds. Every last known survivor had been butchered, split and torn open with their innards spilling into the snow. Red stained much of the frozen ground, a sinister presence looming that sent a chill down the spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“Hail to the gods,” His voice echoed softly as he touched his hand to the forehead of a woman on the ground that was shuddering her last, wheezing breaths. Three perfectly symmetrical slashes had torn through her chest and her life and blood spilled out into the snow. She hardly registered that there was someone next to her, “We praise and honor you as we praise and honor the dead. Carry her into your arms, Thrane, and into the eternal lands of her kin.”

By the time he finished the prayer, the woman gasped her last breath, her vacant eyes staring up at the gray skies which he gently closed. Baldr rose to stand, stepping away to assess the other bodies. The most unsettling part of all this was the lack of footprints. Anything that caused such extensive injuries should have left massive footprints.

@Xorism @LadyRen @TheDudeMike

 

[Sigtryggr Thorite]

The atmosphere of the cantina was temporarily interrupted by the arrival of the new faces, albeit lasting for only a few blinks before returning to normal. It didn't seem to phase the locals of new arrivals, perhaps in part due to the harshness of the environment ensuring a large turnover of faces. Few it seemed, enjoyed the frigid temperatures that had become so homley to their people.

Ordering a few drinks, the Deucalian lad shifted on the spot as if his body was simply disappointed to be indoors. A muscular yearning for the adventure to come. The frights and character development forged in a great hunt.

Hearing a familiar voice and a vivacious look to match, Siggy turned slowly with a smile, taking two jugs of ale with him from the counter and offering her one. "They were all out of shark costumes." He quipped back with a smirk. The furs they wore were caught and sown by hand, a testimony to their individual skill and told a story without saying a word.

Siggy's rabbit pelts showed cunning, and wisdom in planning ahead, crafting traps that would survive the frosty landscape. The large wolf skin vest showed courage and bravery, mastery over one of nature's deadliest and noble creature. To further one's prowess and prestige in the hunt was the Deucalian way, the path of their ancestors.

"They say there exists a ferocious beast in the mountains, taller than a building and teeth as large as you are Freyja." He took a large sip of the ale. "Imagine the tales we tell our children of such a creature, for sure the ancestors will smile upon us." He said with glee. In all the excitement of things, the lady could hardly sit idly in the Cantina, clearly eagar to begin. No sooner would she agree to join, would they knock the jugs together in celebration before quickly downing them.

"We hunt the mountain, all those brave enough to join, follow me." He proudly announced to the rest of the patrons. Among whom many simply ignored his feverish pitch as a madman or simple fool. But Siggy was neither, or both? But at last they would hunt.

Taking whomever would come outside, the group began marching along a long and windy snow path. A path that would soon lead them to another, appearing on the horizon as a simple winter's mirage

@LadyRen @TheDudeMike @Sreeya

 

[Freyja]

The Deucalian huntress was ready and Siggy's reply drew a lopsided smirk from her. It seemed like their little adventure with his crew Har been ages ago, having taking place during a time when the young woman had still been an acolyte trying to find her own path.

It was all different now with Freyja having not only graduated from the Academy, but having refined her skills while having gained a lot of responsibility and freedom alike. She was on her path to not just unite and lead, but build the Deucalians back up to power and reminding the Galaxy of how they weren't a folk to be overlooked.

"A shame", she quipped back, before she order herself an ale and began downing its contents rather quickly. "That's exactly what I'm here for", she replied to Sigtryggr with a smirk, realizing that this time, they'd be at least in their element. Freyja was thrilled to begin, and after the quick refreshment, she was ready to head out.

As she got back up, she noticed a woman nearby, looking like a traveler but knowing they didn't get many of those up her, she couldn't help but wonder whether she had read the note as well. "Are you to accompany us?", she asked her in passing, meeting her gaze for a moment as she extended her hand in invitation, a certain fierceness burning behind her chartreuse eyes. @TheDudeMike

Regardless of whether the woman would agree to tag along or not, Freyja, for her part, and with readied equipment, would leave the cantina and head back onto the path that lead back into the forest. The last sighting was a few miles off, higher up in the mountains, but a beast of such dimensions surely had vast hunting grounds.

According to the villagers, it hadn't been sighted within the town's boarders, yet perhaps it was just waiting for foolish wanderers to stray off too far from civilization. The little party wouldn't travel far before they'd run into yet another wanderer who'd surely sense or hear the group approach rather quickly. @Sreeya

@Xorism

 

[Param Vour]

Param watched the interaction between the man and the girl. She had to admit that she liked the way these people talked. It was like every word was a part of a prophecy being written in real time. Drinking, prophetic language, and really big into furs- they were a people Param could definitely learn to like in time. Maybe even learn a few things from! It was a shame the moon was so cold. It would have been nice to get comfortable for the exploration of other cultures.

Her silver eyes rose to the girl's when the girl extended her hand and gave Param a greeting. Vee perked up, swiveling his optical lens around to face the girl. Param began to stand up, causing Vee to scurry across the table and hop up onto her left shoulder. She slid her war sword through a loop in her belt at her left hip, making sure it was secure, and then extended her hand to take the girl's.

"I am," Param said with a smile. "I'm Rose." With her introduction out of the way, she followed the other two out into the cold. Everything on the moon looked the same, Param noticed. As they forged through the winding snow covered paths, Param couldn't help but frown. It was just snow and ice, as far as the eye could see. Snow and ice on the ground, snow and ice on the mountains, even in the sky from time to time. Param was no stranger to winters and cold weather, but to this level was just uncomfortable.

A broken village lay before them, eventually. Param scanned the surroundings more than the village itself as they approached. Being no stranger to ambushes, it was a good idea to make sure it wasn't one before heading in. Stories and rumors could make a group of bandits sound like a monstrocity larger than a moon if told to the right listeners. Param wasn't taking any chances. Her left hand slid down and grasped the scabbard of her sword, thumb resting on the guard to break the seal that kept it in place for a quick draw if needed.

@Sreeya @LadyRen @Xorism

 

[Baldr Ivarsson]

Baldr’s ears twitched as he heard footsteps heading his way. His gaze flicked up towards the group approaching. They didn’t immediately draw their weapons and he actually recognized one amongst them (@TheDudeMike ). The Deucalian didn’t draw any weapons, giving a wave of his hand to signal that he was a friendly.

When they arrived, he gave a nod to them all, offering a look of acknowledgment to the woman he met earlier, “Well met,” He called out, “I’m Baldr,” He introduced himself, “Wish we were meeting under better circumstances. I assume you followed the trail of this mysterious beast?” Baldr asked as he walked towards a second pile of bodies.

“Whatever is doing the killing appears almost…sentient,” Baldr theorized, his tone one of distaste. He didn’t want to admit it - it was far easier to chalk this up to a simple bear or oversized beast that was dangerous but not intelligent. But no, this seemed methodical and far too smart based on how it attacked and killed.

“If it left footprints, it knew to cover them as it left,” Baldr concluded.

@Xorism @LadyRen